India received the prestigious ‘Blue Flag’ certification on Sunday for the eight beaches it recommended, the Environment Ministry said.
Calling it a “proud moment” for the country, the Union’s Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the certification is a global recognition of India’s conservation and sustainable development efforts.
The Blue Flag certification is a globally recognized eco-label awarded by the “Foundation for Environmental Education, Denmark” based on 33 strict criteria under four main headings: environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environmental management and conservation. , and security and services. on the beaches.
In a statement, the ministry said, an international jury made up of eminent members of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the NGO Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). ) based in Denmark and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The beaches that have received the certification are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden in Odisha and Radhanagar in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, he said.
India has also received the third prize from the jury in the framework of “International Best Practices” for pollution control in coastal regions, he added.
“Proud moment for India; all 8 government recommended beaches earn the coveted international #Blueflag certification,” Javadekar said in a series of tweets.
On September 18, the government had recommended these eight beaches for the coveted international eco-label.
“An outstanding feat, as no #BLUEFLAG nation has been awarded for 8 beaches in a single attempt,” said the minister.
“India is also the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve this feat in just two years,” he added.
Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates are the only other Asian nations to have been awarded a pair of Blue Flag beaches, however within roughly five to six years, according to the statement.
A Blue Flag beach is a model of ecotourism that seeks to provide tourists or bathers with clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities, a safe and healthy environment and the sustainable development of the area.
Recommendations are made by an independent national jury made up of eminent environmentalists and scientists.
Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest in the world, the ministry said previously.
In addition, the ministry added that India is now in the league of 50 countries of the “BLUE FLAG” and we are proud of this honor for our Nation, planning to take this trip to 100 beaches of this type in the country in the next five years. .
India began its humble journey in 2018 for the development of pilot beaches (one in each of the UT / coastal states) and submitted the first set of eight beaches for certification for the upcoming 2020 tourist season.
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